Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It Looks LikeCausesSerious CausesWhen to Seek CareDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Looks Like
Causes
Serious Causes
When to Seek Care
Diagnosis
Treatment
The colon, rectum, and anus are lined with blood vessels. Any injury to this tissue can lead to bright red rectal bleeding. Call your healthcare provider for a diagnosis if you seeblood in the stool, in toilet water, or on the paper when you wipe. Seek treatment right away if you experience symptoms including trouble breathing, feeling faint, or fever.
What Does Blood in Stool Look Like?
The blood in your stool may be different colors depending upon where in your colon it is located. For example:
Your healthcare provider may want to run tests based on the color of your stool.
Bright red blood on the toilet paper is likely due to mild rectal bleeding. These common conditions can often be treated with at-home remedies but should still be discussed with your healthcare provider. Causes can include:
Let your healthcare provider know if you are straining to pass bowel movements.
Are There Foods that Cause Red Stool?Some food can cause red stool, which can resemble blood. This is often because of the dyes in food, though it can naturally occur.These include:BeetsCandy, like red licoriceDrinks that contain food dyes, like fruit punch or red sports drinksFoods that contain natural or artificial red food coloring, such as red #40Red gelatinPopsiclesTomato juice or soup
Are There Foods that Cause Red Stool?
Some food can cause red stool, which can resemble blood. This is often because of the dyes in food, though it can naturally occur.These include:BeetsCandy, like red licoriceDrinks that contain food dyes, like fruit punch or red sports drinksFoods that contain natural or artificial red food coloring, such as red #40Red gelatinPopsiclesTomato juice or soup
Some food can cause red stool, which can resemble blood. This is often because of the dyes in food, though it can naturally occur.These include:
Bright red blood in the stool can be a sign of multiple noncancerous conditions. Your healthcare provider can help you determine whether your bleeding is a result of one of these conditions:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Any blood in the stool requires a call to your healthcare provider. Additional symptoms that should be evaluated promptly include:
These issues could be linked to serious infection or severe blood loss.
Diagnosis includes a physical exam to look for any visible causes of rectal bleeding, like hemorrhoids or anal abrasion. Your healthcare provider will discuss symptoms and medical history, and they may order tests that include:
Questions Your Doctor May AskYou can prepare for a conversation with your healthcare provider, who may ask these typical questions:Was the blood in the stool, toilet bowl, or on the toilet paper? How much?Was the blood bright red or dark red? Do you have other symptoms?Do you have bowel changes or straining with constipation?When was your last colon cancer screening or colonoscopy?Do you have a history of polyps or a family history of polyps?
Questions Your Doctor May Ask
You can prepare for a conversation with your healthcare provider, who may ask these typical questions:Was the blood in the stool, toilet bowl, or on the toilet paper? How much?Was the blood bright red or dark red? Do you have other symptoms?Do you have bowel changes or straining with constipation?When was your last colon cancer screening or colonoscopy?Do you have a history of polyps or a family history of polyps?
You can prepare for a conversation with your healthcare provider, who may ask these typical questions:
The treatment for bright red blood in stool focuses on the underlying cause. Minor bleeding from hemorrhoids or a fissure often goes away on its own or with at-home care. More serious causes will require medical treatment.
For bleeding due to hard stools and tears, treating constipation is the first step. It includes:
Some causes, like polyps, can be treated during a colonoscopy. Inflammatory conditions may require prescription medications to relieve the underlying cause of rectal bleeding.
Summary
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colon cancer symptoms.MedlinePlus.Hypovolemic shock.UpToDate.Etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in adults.American College of Gastroenterology.Small Bowel Bleeding: Overview.American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Understanding minor rectal bleeding.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anal fissures.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Stools with blood.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GI bleeding.Lamonaca L, Auriemma F, Paduano D, Bianchetti M, Spatola F, Galtieri P,et al.Rectal band ligation as a treatment for chronic radiation proctitis: a feasibility study.Endosc Int Open. 2022 Jun 10;10(6):E787-E790. doi:10.1055/a-1821-0776.University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.When to worry about blood in your stool (rectal bleeding).Yonke N, Aragón M, Phillips JK.Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2022 Apr 1;105(4):388-396. PMID:35426632American Academy of Family Physicians.E coli infection.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Colorectal cancer: Screening.MedlinePlus.Colorectal cancer.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colon cancer symptoms.MedlinePlus.Hypovolemic shock.UpToDate.Etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in adults.American College of Gastroenterology.Small Bowel Bleeding: Overview.American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Understanding minor rectal bleeding.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anal fissures.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Stools with blood.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GI bleeding.Lamonaca L, Auriemma F, Paduano D, Bianchetti M, Spatola F, Galtieri P,et al.Rectal band ligation as a treatment for chronic radiation proctitis: a feasibility study.Endosc Int Open. 2022 Jun 10;10(6):E787-E790. doi:10.1055/a-1821-0776.University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.When to worry about blood in your stool (rectal bleeding).Yonke N, Aragón M, Phillips JK.Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2022 Apr 1;105(4):388-396. PMID:35426632American Academy of Family Physicians.E coli infection.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Colorectal cancer: Screening.MedlinePlus.Colorectal cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colon cancer symptoms.MedlinePlus.Hypovolemic shock.UpToDate.Etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in adults.American College of Gastroenterology.Small Bowel Bleeding: Overview.American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Understanding minor rectal bleeding.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anal fissures.University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Stools with blood.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GI bleeding.Lamonaca L, Auriemma F, Paduano D, Bianchetti M, Spatola F, Galtieri P,et al.Rectal band ligation as a treatment for chronic radiation proctitis: a feasibility study.Endosc Int Open. 2022 Jun 10;10(6):E787-E790. doi:10.1055/a-1821-0776.University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.When to worry about blood in your stool (rectal bleeding).Yonke N, Aragón M, Phillips JK.Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2022 Apr 1;105(4):388-396. PMID:35426632American Academy of Family Physicians.E coli infection.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Colorectal cancer: Screening.MedlinePlus.Colorectal cancer.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colon cancer symptoms.
MedlinePlus.Hypovolemic shock.
UpToDate.Etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in adults.
American College of Gastroenterology.Small Bowel Bleeding: Overview.
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.Understanding minor rectal bleeding.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anal fissures.
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Stools with blood.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GI bleeding.
Lamonaca L, Auriemma F, Paduano D, Bianchetti M, Spatola F, Galtieri P,et al.Rectal band ligation as a treatment for chronic radiation proctitis: a feasibility study.Endosc Int Open. 2022 Jun 10;10(6):E787-E790. doi:10.1055/a-1821-0776.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.When to worry about blood in your stool (rectal bleeding).
Yonke N, Aragón M, Phillips JK.Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2022 Apr 1;105(4):388-396. PMID:35426632
American Academy of Family Physicians.E coli infection.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Colorectal cancer: Screening.
MedlinePlus.Colorectal cancer.
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